Rail and tie plate fastener



April 1, 1930 s. w. MULLER 1,752,450

RAIL AND TIE PLATE FASTENER Filed May 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I g a). IINVEZTE'OR. I j fizlwblbgm 444 1. ATTORNEY.

April], 1930. G. w. MULLER 1,752,450 v RAIL AND TIE PLATE FASTENER Filed May 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 502' JO o 6/ F/a A5 /gyjgii a9 INVENTOZ.

Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. MULLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COIEUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO IVFULIIER RAILWAY TRACK SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE RAIL AND TIE PLATE FASTENER- Application filed May 29,

This invention relates to rail and tie plate fasteners employed in building railroad tracks, and in general has for its object the production of rail securing devices having parts of special construction and arrangement whereby it is believed from extended trials and experiments railway rails may be fastened against any undersirable displcement with less labor, more expeditiously and with greater permanence than by any contrivances for similar purposes with which this applicant is acquainted.

t is also an object of this inven ion to provide a fastener which will prevent the spikes from working out of or loose in the tie plate, by reason of the wave movement of the rails due to the effect of the rolling wheel loads, as such movement results in a lever action tending to lift the spikes. in preventing such displacement of the spikes the spreading or turning over of the rails is guarded against.

Another object of this invention is to fashion a securing means that will permanently hold the tie, the rail, and the tie plate together in the positions originally given them, and will not allow water to enter the spike holes or abraded tie portions in bad weather and with injurious results.

In explanation of the particular objects sought to be attained by the use of this invention it may be stated that, for the past five months the applicant has had rails forming a part of the track of a busy railroad equipped with fasteners made in accordance with this invention, and more than seven thousand heavy trains have rolled over such rails and fasteners, the latter still holding tight and functioning fully as when originally placed in position.

It is also an advantage and thought to be of great benefit in the use of this invention, as well as a saving in time and labor and other expense, to enable new'rails to be readily placed in the track, or to allow the changing of. therails from smaller to larger size or the reverse.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a fastener of the character described wnerein the bolts, spikes or the like are to 1928. Serial No. 281,568.

be placed through the outer edge portions of the tie plates away from the rail, as the tie plate has some flexible or breathing action between the tie and the plate although the plate may be held tight'to the tie;

It is also an object of this invention todevise a fastener which will prevent the tiesfrom creeping or rolling in their bed, and will thereby keep the track in line without further cost of maintenance.- Y

It is also an object of thisinventionto provide a rail and tie plate fastener that may be ecured by bolts, spikes or screws, and that may be used with ties of wood, concrete, steel of material. This invention is not'li-mited to any particular size or form of tie plate or any special form of spikes.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction and arran ement of the parts of [1S invention.

Figure 1 represents in section edge portions of a flange of a rail and tie plate, hav-' ing a form of this invention applied.

Figure 1A, is a top plan view of the holding key as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a sectional view transversely of the edge portion of a tie plate, and shows the bendable leg formation of the spike pin.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the flange of a rail and end portion of a tie plate, with this invention applied thereto inmodified form.

Figure i is a view of the parts set' out" in Figure Staken from theleft hand'end of" the tie plate.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the holding key in engagement with the edge portion of the flange of a rail and the tie plate.

Figure 6 is a plan view similar to Figure 5 showing the spike pin in position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the edge portions of the flangeof a rail and a tie plate together having this invention appliedthereto, the contacting surfaces of theholding key and the spike pin curving towards the rails Figure 8 shows one form of spike pin usable with the arrangement of parts ill'u'sthe contacting surfaces of the holding key and spike pin curving outwardly away from the rail. In this figure two raised shoulders appear on the plate.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the edge portions of the flange of a rail on a tie plate, showing a modified form of holding key.

Figure 11 is a face view of one form of spike pin to be used with the parts as arranged in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a cross section of the tie plate and flange of a rail thereon, the parts being similar to those shown in the Figure 9, but omitting one of the raised shoulders.

Figure 13 represents a cross section of the flange of a rail upon a tie plate shown in section and provided with a hook lip engaging the flange. The other side of the flange is provided with parts as securing means in accordance with this invention.

Figure 14 shows one form of legged spike pin to be used with parts as set out in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a sectional view similar to Fig- P ure 13, showing the use of bushing in engagement with the lip of the tie plate to enable smaller size rails to be secured. In this figure the holding key is modified and formed with a recess extending for a distance upon the top and bottom of the tie plate.

Figure 16 is a sectional view of the flange of a rail upon a tie plate, the plate having on one side a raised shoulder, the flange of the rail being arranged against the shoulder, and the plate and flange being secured on both sides of the ail by parts formed in accordance with this invention.

Throughout the description and drawings the same number is used to refer to the same part.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, the flange 1 of the rail is held upon the tie plate 2 by the engagement of the wedge-formed recess 3 of the holding key 4. The recess 3 is formed on one side of the key, while on the other side there is provided a tie plate bearing 4 having an opening 4 The key passes through the plate, and the spike pin 5 passes through the openings in both the key and the plate, and has the bendable legs 6 as shown in Figure 2 to hold the key in clamping relation with the flange and plate.

In Figures 3 and 4 the rail flange 8 rests upon the tie plate 9, and the holding key 10 clamps the flange and plate together. The legged spike pin 11, passes also through the plate against the key, and holds the key in clamping relation with the flange and plate.

In Figure 3 the spike pin 11. is shown to have a shoulder 12 in contact with the top of the tie plate when the spike pin is in position. In Figure 4 the view is taken from the left of Figure 3, and the key 10 is provided with a block portion or hearing 13 that rests upon the top of the tie plate.

In Figure 5 a plan view of the key 10 is shown, setting forth the location of the hearing block end 13 on the plate 9. The spike opening 14 is also shown in this figure.

In Figure 6 the plan shows the top of the key 10, its engagement with the flange 8 of the rail, the location of the bearing block end 13, and the form and position of the head 15 of the spike pin 11.

In Figure 7, the flange 16 of the rail lies upon the tie plate 17, and the holding key 18 passes through the plate and clamps the flange and the plate together. T he spike pin. 19 also passes through the plate against the key, and it will be observed that the contact surface 20 of the pin and 21 of the key have a permanent curvature toward the rail. The spike pin 19 may have the legged formation illustrated in Figure 8, but this invention is in no sense confined thereto.

In Figure 9, the flange 22 of the rail is positioned between two raised shoulders 23 and 24 rising from the tie plate 25. In addition thereto, it will be noted that the flange and plate are clamped together by holding keys 26 and 27 of like construction, secured by the spike pins 28 and 29. In F igure 9 it will be seen that the keys and pins have contacting surfaces curving away from the middle of the flange. The radius of this curve is found advantageously to be six and one-half inches for general uses.

In Figure 10 the key 30 has a recess 31 litting the edge of the tie plate 32. The pin 33 forces the key against the flange and the plate, and neither part can be displaced.

Figure 11 is another form of spike pin useful with this invention. The body of the pin in marked 35, and below the head are two outwardly bent legs 36 and 37 with a downwardly projecting portion 38 between them as illustrated. In Figures 10 and 11 the contacting surfaces of the pin and key are curved outwardly from the middle of the plate or flange as in Figure 9.

In Figure 12, the flange 39 rests upon the tie plate 40 against a single raised shoulder 41 on the plate. The holding key 42 and spike pin 43 clamp the flange and plate together as shown, and the fastener is located on both sides of the rail in this figure.

In Figure 13, the flange 44 is held under a lip 45 formed integrally with the tie plate 46. On one side of the flange are holding key 47 and spike pin 48, and while their contacting surfaces are vertical as drawn, it is within the purview of this invention to curve them or to slant them in any way.

Figure 14 sets forth a spike pin 49 very similar to the pin shown in Figure 11., but the legs 50 and 51 are formed with shoulders 50 to engage under the tie plate and assist in retaining the spike in position.

In Figure 15, the tie plate 52 has the hook lip53, and the fastener comprising the hold- D, Z'EBAiBG ing key 54 and spike pin 55, but in this in stance the flange 56 of the rail which is a smaller rail does not extend all the way between the holding key and the lip. A bushing 57 of any chosen material or form is introduced between the flange and lip as illustrated.

In Figure 16 the tie plate 58 has the single raised lug 59 and the flange 60 is placed against the lug on the plate. Fasteners comprising the holding keys 61 and spike pins 62 in accordance with this invention secure the flange and plate on both sides of the flange. Their contacting surfaces may be either straight or curved planes, equal or unequal in length, within the intention of this invention.

The operation of each form of this invention described in the foregoing is closely the same and has in view and is believed by applicant to fully accomplish the objects stated. Thus as an example, considering Figure 9, the spike pins pass through the tie plate and also bear down upon said plate. The rail cannot move with respect to the plate, and the plate cannot lift with respect to the tie. By reason of the clamp of the holding keys the flange of the rail cannot leave the plate, nor can the holding keys become displaced from the plate and flange. Finally, by reason of the resiliency and curving contacting surfaces between the pins and keys, a strong resistance to any force tending to displace the pins from the operative position is set up and additionally by reason of the grips of the bent legs of the spike pins in the plate such resistance is increased. Obviously, the tie plate is secured to the tie on opposite sides of the rail flange by spikes, bolts or screws, or any other suitable securing means that may be found desirable.

I claim:

1. In a rail and tie plate fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the tie plate, holding keys engaging the flange of the rail and the tie plate, and spike pins passing through the tie plate, said spike pins including means to prevent their withdrawal from the tie plate, the said pins and the said holding keys having correspondingly curved surfaces in contact whereby the pins secure the keys.

2. In a rail and tie plate fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the plate, holding keys engaging the flange of the rail and the tie plate, spike pins passing through the tie plate, said spike pins including means to prevent their withdrawal from the tie plate, and the said pins and the said holding keys having correspondingly curved surfaces in contact and said surfaces being curved outwardly with respect to the rail.

3. In a rail and tie plate fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the tie plate, holding keys passing through the plate and having lipsengaging the 'top of the flangeof the rail and the bottom. ofthe tie;plate,.andi spike pins passing through the tie plate, said spike pins ineludingmeansto preventtheir withdrawal from the tie plate, the said pinsandthesaid holding'keys having correspondingly-c11rved1 surfaces in. CODY-1 tact whereby the pins secure thekeys.

4. In a rail andtie plate f'a'stener, the cornbination. with a tie and tie'plate, of a rail on the plate, holding keys engaging the top of the flange of the rail and the bottom of the tie plate and passing through the plate, and spike pins passing through the tie plate, said spike pins including means to prevent their withdrawal from the tie plate, the said pins and the said holding keys having correspondingly curved surfaces in contact and the said surfaces being curved outwardly with respect to the rail.

5. In a rail and tie plate fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the plate, a holding key passing through the plate and engaging the flange of the rail, and a spike pin passing through the plate against the said holding key, the said spike pin having bendable lower legs, one of said legs being arranged to bend under the key when the spike is driven into the plate.

6. In a rail and tie fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the plate, a holding key passing through the plate and engaging the top of the flange of the rail and the bottom of the said plate, said key having an opening therein and a spike pin passing through the opening in said key and through the said plate to secure the key, said pin being engaged on all sides by the walls of said opening.

7. In a rail and tie plate fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the plate, holding keys engaging the flange of the rail and the tie plate, and spike pins passing through the tie plate having legs bent out beneath the plate to prevent withdrawal of the pin and the said pins and keys having correspondingly curved surfaces in contact whereby the pins secure the keys.

8. In a rail and tie plate fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the plate, holding keys engaging the flange of the rail and the tie plate, spike pins passing through the tie plate having legs bent out beneath the plate to prevent withdrawal of the pin, the said pins and the said keys having correspondingly curved surfaces in contact to secure the keys, and the said surfaces being curved outwardly with respect to the rails.

9. In a rail and tie plate fastener, a spike pin having its lower portion provided with bendable legs, the said pin having one curved side and a shoulder for-med on the opposite side of the pin.

10. In a rail and tie plate fastener, the combination with a tie and tie plate, of a rail on the plate, a holding key passing through said plate and engaging the flange of the rail and a spike pin passing through the plate against the holding key, said pin including a 5 solid body portion engaging the portion of the key engaging the rail flange and having bendable legs depending from the body portion t0 retain the pin in position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. GEORGE 'VV. MULLER. 

